‘Ultraman Ginga S’ to Feature Nissan LEAF, e-NV200

It will also be the perfect little slice of happiness you have been looking for if you can find a way to watch it.

This is my internal monologue pretty much all the time.

Let’s just get one thing out of the way right here and now: Ultraman is a beautiful and wonderful thing that everybody should experience in some capacity. You can buy the entire 1966-1967 series on DVD for the price of a large Chicken Carbonara sandwich at Quiznos, only Ultraman won’t leave you feeling bloated and yet somehow unfulfilled after consumption. It’s got martial arts, giant monster fights, and a ton of cardboard cities getting exploded, and oodles of 60s kitsch. Just check out this video so you can see what you’re missing. For you children of the 90s, think Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, except considerably less awful.

So Ultraman is one of the greatest things ever created. We are now in agreement. Then it will no doubt please you to learn that in the new 16-part series, Ultraman Ginga S, will prominently feature the Nissan LEAF and the e-NV200 as the vehicles of choice for Ultraman’s Ultra Party Guardian (UPG) allies.

Not only do the LEAF and e-NV200 get body kits and rad orange/yellow/silver paint jobs to punch up their sci-fi looks, but their batteries also provide the energy for UPG members’ ray guns and, in one episode, act as a backup generator for a building that needs power (just like real life). Does anybody else’s car do that? Nope.

LEAF’s got lasers. Your move, Mr. Musk.

Bonus points: the LEAF is called “Schnauzer” and the e-NV200 goes by the name “Malamute.” Oh, and because of Tsuburaya Productions’ affiliation with Bandai, that means there will be ultra-collectable “Schnauzer” and “Malamute” models somewhere down the line (but likely only in Japan).

Check out the behind-the-scenes featurette below, and if you happen to have access to TV Tokyo starting Tuesday, July 15, check out Ultraman Ginga S and do a little something nice for your inner child.